Two PNP-SAF officers relieved from posts

May 28, 2013 10:21 pm

MANILA, May 28 — Two officers of PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) has been relieved from their post following the lapses of security that resulted to the ambush of 15-man elite policemen that left eight of them dead, police official said on Tuesday.

Director Carmelo Valmoria, SAF commander said that Supt. Dante Lobos, Commander of 2nd Special Action Battalion and Sr. Inspector Ronnie Albino, Chief of 24th Special Action Company were relieved due to command responsibility that lead to eight policemen killed.

He added that the members of SAF did not conduct occular inspection on the area which is known as an ambush site.

According to the initial investigation, the landmines planted by NPA was 30 meters away from the direction of 15 SAF members, then after the explosion at least 30 rebels started to shoot the cops.

The rebels also took 11 assault rifles after the attack.

It also discovered that a female communist rebel who led the attack on the members of the SAF following the testimony of some of the seven policemen who survived the attack on Monday morning.

That is what we are going to confirm because there is this issue that a woman was seen in that area, said Valmoria.

Quoting the narration of some of the police survivors, Valmoria said a woman seen as among those who was allegedly leading the confiscation of some of the service firearms of the slain police commandos.

During the background check, a female New Peoples Army (NPA) sub-leader identified only as a certain Ka Selya surfaces as among the rebels operating in Cagayan and nearby areas.

It was not clear, however, if it was indeed Ka Selya who led the attack.

But she was allegedly under the command of Danilo Ben, the NPA leader operating in Cagayan province.

For his part, Senior Supt. Gregorio Lim, director of the Cagayan police, said the remaining communist rebels usually operate in the western part of the province.

The pursuit operations are on-going. But there are some difficulties because they usually blend with the civilians like farmers, Lim said. (PNA)